Christian Bokich, department manager for product and technology communications for Mercedes-Benz USA, would not confirm anything about an electric S-Class, but he did give AutoblogGreen an official rundown of MB's upcoming green cars in the US, starting with the launch of the all-electric B-Class ED in July of this year in the ZEV states (launch details for other states are TBA, he said). An S-Class plug-in hybrid is coming in the first half of 2015, followed by a C-Class PHEV closer towards the end of that year in the USA. There is also a C-Class four-cylinder BlueTEC coming at some point in 2016.

Until we get more concrete information about the possible S-Class EV, let's review what we know about the PHEV. Last September, Mercedes-Benz started showing off the plug-in hybrid S-Class, saying that it could go as far as 19 miles on electric power alone and had a preliminary fuel efficiency rating of more than 78 miles per gallon, using the more lenient European driving cycle.

Earlier this week, Mercedesshowed off its S-Class Coupe. That model's US version will have a twin-turbocharged V8 that kicks in 449 horsepower, a few more than the presumptive S-Class EV will have. Ernstberger also said Mercedes would join the ranks of automakers offering autonomous driving systems and mentioned the S-Class as being at the "top of the movement." He held his tongue when asked about the possibility of an S-Class cabriolet.

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Because that would cannibalize sales of the C-Class. It's about optimizing profit. Once the market is saturated and there's little money to be gain from the technology segregation, the Blue TEC will spread to other models.

IT CAN'T BE DONE. There is no battery for adequate ranges... How long do they plan to wait. Tesla proves it with every sold model s that it is possible. As partner mercedes should have noticed. also they should have noticed that they could modify a tesla glider and put an s-class body on top. Then imagine the frunk filled with moar batteries. 110kwh would be possible.

MB doesn't know what to do or think about Tesla eating the S-class alive. They seem massively confused. For them to sell off rather than buy more Tesla alone is the sign of gutlessness. (Sorry Grendal) They seem to not understand why the ModelS resonates and sells. A simple battery and motor alone will not match any Tesla. Since getting the inside stuff straight from Tesla what has MB learned? Anything? What concrete steps have they taken in 20 years to make sure they can pull a Tesla out of their hat? SMART? Chrysler? They haven't learned from the Prius yet. I wonder if the electric SLS was anything more than a stunt, like most concepts. MB is doing relatively well for car makers but they are as far behind Tesla as anyone. In fact they could be much worse off for letting Tesla get all the experience they should have had for themselves. I'd rather invest $1000 in Tesla today than MB. This wishy washy-ness is further proof that MB is basically clueless on BEV's.

rofl ..... dear fanboy, please go ahead. Buy Tesla stocks if you are so sure. Good luck! By the way: Even an CLA looks so much better than the Tesla. Built quality, design, haptics ... It's like night and day. But again, go ahead.

Meanwhile Daimler has hedged its 4% position in Tesla against future losses. So plan A: Tesla fails and Daimler has no need for a Model S rival, plan B a vague plan for a plug-in S Class in case Tesla doesn't meet the usual fate of start ups in the car business and becomes a serious luxury class competitor instead?

Daimler has made back everything they invested in Tesla and a whole lot more. They did that when they sold off 40% of their holdings back in early 2012. In hindsight that was a major mistake. They probably felt similar to me when I sold off my stake at $202. I made a lot but there was a lot more I would have made if I had just stuck with it.

It comes down to the fact that Musk is out to change the world of motoring and doesn't really care whether he makes money at it (other than making money helps to reach his goals). Daimler, as every other manufacturer, is out to make money. That is their driving motivation. With Tesla that is a result of making a compelling car and building the infrastructure to support it. I expect Tesla to continue to confound other manufacturers for the next twenty years. Jack Rickard sums it up very nicely at 34:00 in on last weeks episode. If you want to hear the entire rant start at 30:00. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YWPQTjpKovQ&list=UUtSO7VGybs6U__X-Y8l_QmQ

I see MB as being completely confounded by Tesla's success. And confounded by Smart's losses and the Prius's success too. Each example Electron gave seems like evidence that no one should expect any automaker but Tesla think **truly** innovatively. When someone else comes up with a supercharger or the sense to license it from Tesla affordably I might believe the whole industry is not 100% confounded, gobsmacked and befuddled by Tesla's every move. Until then....

@Electron - how do you know no-one has plans? No plans that they've made public maybe. Even if it's left to Tesla I don't think that will be any bad thing, maybe the big players are happy to let them have that market even at their own cost.

Fact remains that nobody in the industry including Daimler seems to have concrete plans to do what Tesla is doing: long range EVs + charging infrastructure to support them. Instead Daimler has been divesting and hedges its bets for its remaining share and has "Model S rival" plans that sound pretty vague at best. It's not the sort of behaviour one would expect regarding a disruptive new player so could it be the industry is still betting on Tesla's ultimate demise?

@Grendal, I don't think the big boys over at Daimler are easily confounded by new developments and I think carmakers in general know a thing or two about long term pay off for innovative ideas, think Prius and even Daimler's own hopeless Smart money pit . When I hear about Daimler patting Tesla on the back for being such a good partner and investment for them that just feels weird considering that Tesla is very much planning on eating their lunch in the luxury class. Tesla isn't Daimler's friend but a rival and no doubt there is a strategy in place to deal with the kind of challenge an innovative player like Tesla poses but apparently matching Tesla's concept with a similar concept isn't it.

I think all the luxury car makers were completely stunned when Tesla showed them there was a market for a high-end luxury electric sports sedan. They are now scrambling to catch up. These plug-in hybrids with really small EV ranges are a pathetic move into the sector.